January 20, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



51 



Poultry Show. I certainly think the mildest form of punish- 

 ment that could be adopted would be to debar him from ex- 

 hibiting in hi3 own name at any future show for at least 

 twelve months. I hold that such a practice savour3 very 

 strongly of obtaining money under faise pretences — certainly 

 morally, if not legally.— Obsebveb. 



LONDON POULTRY SHOW. 



JANUARY 15th— 18th. 



No metropolitan poultry show— no previous Crystal Palace Poultry 

 Show-equalled that just concluded. There were 1377 pens, and we 

 never rememher to have seen anywhere such a small per-centage ot 

 indifferent birds ; and in almost every class the competition was so 

 close— the merits of many pens so nearly balanced— that the Judges 

 had much difficulty in concluding their decisions in time, lhis oc- 

 casioned a most vexatious delav in the completion of the prize list, 

 and as this is printed in a column by the side of each page of the 

 catalogue, no catalogue could be had until late in the day of Saturday. 

 This caused great inconvenience, and we recommend in future— for a 

 good future is in prospect— that the prize list be printed on a separate 

 sheet. Very few pens were untenanted, and among the absentees were 

 the Light Brahma Pootras of Mr. Pares, an absence to be the more 

 regretted because caused by a domestic affliction. 



It is with great pleasure that at last we have to congratulate the 

 Committee on the success which has attended their spirited attempt to 

 establish a poultry show in London, especially as we were the first to 

 open our columns, so that the subject might be thoroughly brought 

 before those who felt an interest in poultry shows. The liberal prize 

 list, as we expected, brought together a large collection of birds. U 

 not the largest in numbers, we believe in quality they have never been 

 surpassed. The general arrangements were tolerably good ; but we 

 would suggest to the Committee that it would be advantageous that 

 the numbers at the end of each class should be continuous, for we 

 experienced great difficulty in finding some of the classes ; and, again, 

 that the Pigeon numbers should runln a continual line instead of up 

 and down, which must have been exceedingly troublesome to the 

 Judoes. Mr. Billett's well-known pens were hired for the occasion, 

 and suited well with the light structure of the room in which the Show 

 was held ; but we thought the pens should have had some calico at the 

 back, so as to prevent the birds seeing and fighting with each other. 

 We noticed several birds very much disfigured through being too close 

 to one another. 



The Dorkings, Cochins, Game, and Brahmas were very numerous, 

 and included some excellent specimens. The first prize for Buff Cochin 

 hens went to two splendid hens, but on Saturday one of them had an 

 apoplectic fit and died in a few seconds. Mr. S. Matthews took the 

 cup for Game cocks with his excellent model of a Game bird ; Miss 

 Entwisle the cup for Game Bantams with a bird which if a little 

 shorter on the leg would have been perfect. Mr. Lane distanced all 

 in the Spanish class for cocks, although there was a close competition 

 for the second and third prizes. We were glad to see that many of 

 the birds had smooth faces and the long lob, which certainly looks far 

 handsomer than the cauliflower face which we have seen lately. The 

 hens showed to great advantage, but we hardly bked the birds which 

 stood first so well as others in the class. 



We were sorry to see so poor an entry for Hamburg!*. We always 

 admire this variety with their rose comb, white earlobe, handsome 

 plumage, and neat shape, and are puzzled to know the reason why it 

 has not become a more popular bird ; but now the sickle feathers have 

 been discovered, which no donbt have answered for many cocks, there 

 is a better chance for winning a prize for exhibitors generally. 



In the " Any variety " class there were some excellent and very 

 curious birds ; amongst others were a pair of Bantams which were en- 

 tirely without tails ; there was also an excellent pair of Black Cochins. 

 The Selling class was a show in itself, consisting of all varieties, and 

 some of the birds would certainly have won had they been entered in 

 their own classes. The Committee must have made a good profit by 

 this class, as a large number of birds changed hands. We learned 

 that during the first two days the amount taken in sales was upwards 

 of £300. The birds appeared to be well fed and supplied with a plen- 

 tiful supply of clean water. 



On the French varieties we are promised a separate criticism. 



History is Baid to repeat itself. It may do so, or it may not ; but 

 there is a sign of repetition at Sydenham of the poultry gatherings 

 that were great favourites in years gone by. This week has seen a 

 collection of good poultry brought into competition in the Glass House, 

 and as the attempt of a hitherto-untried Committee it may safely be 

 pronounced successful. One thing is certain, that the fancy for 

 poultry and Pigeons in and around the metropolis flourishes to an 

 extent not exceeded in any part of the kingdom. The show-case for 

 the prizes (extra) in silver plate offered in addition to and independent 

 of the prize sheet, was a sight in itself. 



The Darlings headed the list, the classes being for " Cock of any 

 age," " Two hens of any age." For the best cock bird, Mr. J. Martin 

 took the cup and first prize ; Mr. Bearpark second ; Mr. Parlett third. 

 Hi°h commendations and commendations were scattered broadcast all 

 through the Show. The hens and pullets in Class 2 had many ad- 



mirers, especially the third-prize pullets belonging to Mr. Lrngwood. 

 In Silver-Grey Dorkings the competition was small, and in W nites it 

 was smaller. The qualitv of the Buff Cochins exhibited was very 

 good The heus and pullets were grand, the second-prize and hignty- 

 commended birds of Mr. Mapplebeck especially. The ^f^'f 

 Brown and Partridge and for White Cochins were small, but the bird3 

 fuUy of average quality, especially the Whites of Mrs. Williamson 

 and Mr. Zurhorst. Dark Brahmas were a strong class, stronger ill 

 numbers than in qualitv. The first prize in the class for cocks was 

 taken by Mr. James. Light Brahmas for some special reason had 

 three classes instead of two. In the class for cocks of 1-^bJ, , Mr. 

 Mavnard tool; first, Mrs. Williamson second, and Mr. Crook third. 

 This latter gentleman took first and cup for hens, as well as a second 

 prize and highly commended. 



In and around London we always get good Spanish classes, and the 

 present formed no exception. The Houdans were not as good an 

 average as we should have expected, nor were the other 1 rench breeds 

 well represented, except by the birds of one or two exhibitors. The 

 Hambunih classes were very small. 



The Game fowls came to the scratch m fine condition. ihe hrst- 

 prize Black Bed cock, belonging to Mr. Matthews, was a very hand- 

 some bird. The hens weie but few in number. The competition in 

 Brown Eeds was close, reversing the Birmingham winners. Duckwing 

 cocks were good in numbers and quality. The Polish were as Polish 

 always are : the same exhibitors in much the same position. Ihe 

 class for ■• Any other variety " presented the same motley appearance 

 to which we are accustomed at shows, and in the catalogue the names 

 of the breeds were more than usually bizarre. The Bantams are 

 always objects of great interest to general visitors, and those at the 

 Crystal Palace formed no c-x-eption to the rule It seems a pity to 

 divide the pens of these little birds. The selling class was both 

 poTular and strong; the sales were brisk and frequent. In Ayles- 

 bury Ducks the quality was good, number small. Kouens were more 

 numerous. Turteys and Geese mustered poorly, and the classes for 

 dead poultry were failures. 



The arrangements seem to have been good, and lead to the hope that 

 the Show will become a standing dish of the Sydenham bill of fare. 



Pigeons —Our metropolitan Pigeon fanciers who so largely support 

 provincial shows, have at length awakened to the fact that they owed 

 their country friends an invitation. Hence the " Great London 

 Exhibition,"' which opened on Saturday at the Crystal Palace-a 

 credit to all concerned ; to the original projectors, to the Palace Com- 

 pany, to the exhibitors, and pre-eminently to the executive whose 

 arduous labours, in spite of numberless difficulties were crowned with 

 a highly-deserved success. To the Pigeon representatives the obstacles 

 were unusually severe, not the least of them being the scepticism of 

 their poultry coadjutors as to the actual strength of the Pigeon depart- 

 ments, and their ability to supply entries sufficiently numerous to re- 

 coup the prize money. The result, however, removes all such doubts 

 for the future, and, as an annual Show, may be fairly anticipat d 

 from a beginning so enthusiastically supported, a liberal policy will 

 always be justified. . ., *u^„ 



It would be hypercritical to record shortcomings ;— if any they 

 were those and those only necessarily incident to a hrst effort of such 



Pr Of°the°Show itself, we do not hesitate to say that it has proved the 

 choicest and most representative Exhibition ever brought together, 

 and putting aside the Glasgow thirty-guinea challenge cup, which was 

 only earnestly competed for by two exhibitors, we believe that even 

 numerically this Show has no rival. T, nT , ic „ „„„ 



Taking the three leading varieties we find seventy-two Pouters one 

 hundred 8 and eleven Carriers, and fifty-three pairs of Short-faced 

 Tumblers doing the honours of their respective classes, and for the 

 most part grandly displaying the present standard of excellence and 

 the naturalistic skill of their owners ; while Barbs, l™*™'***^! 

 Nuns, Trumpeters, Owls, Turbits, Magpies Dragoons, Antwerps and 

 unclassed Toys appeared in a profusion and excellence that must at 

 once have delighted and surprised their numerous Parens. 



If the Pouters fell somewhat short of a Scotch standard, many ex- 

 cellent birds were nevertheless present ; enough, indeed to sbowthat 

 our English fanciers are taking up this princely variety with great 

 spirit, and may yet run their northern friends a close race 



The extraordinary strength put forth ,n Garners and f^*™* 

 Tumhhrs would more than have compensated the greatest deficiency. 

 Of the former variety it is impossible to speak with too much adnu- 

 ration, for never before was a class so perfectly represented, and never 

 has excellence so d. 8 tinguished been found in a like nnmher of speci- 

 men Fanciers alike °of head properties or style or be tor strU o 

 both combined, must have found a well-nigh iae*h»u»tib le store of 

 gratification, and could the prizes have been awarded five times oyer 

 many a meritorious bird must yet have been left unrewarded 



Premising the general accuracy of the awards, which ^eould scarce^ 

 have been entrusted to better Judges than Messrs. Corker -and 1 . rcival 

 we must refer our readers to the prize schedule, glittering ^silver 

 cups and pieces of plate, rather than attempt any detailed analysis oi 



th ForX champion cups, however, there was a very keen contest Mr 

 Wiltshire being lo fortunate as to carry off three or Carriers , old and 

 young; and the one for Almond Tumblers; while of the other cup- 



